Brooks: Buffs' No. 1 QB Decision Could Be Prolonged

BOULDER - Given the circumstances, the Colorado Buffaloes coming out of spring practice without a starting quarterback isn't so startling. But how about this: QB coach Rip Scherer says the Buffs could enter the 2012 season with the search for Tyler Hansen's replacement still underway.

In truth, that scenario probably doesn't fit in the "startling" category either; it's one of several at the position that CU could be dealing with at the conclusion of August camp. But few persons (probably Scherer included) will argue that it's where the Buffs want to find themselves in early September. In quarterback competitions to determine a first-year starter, the best-case scenario usually is having a No. 1 identified at least two weeks before the opener . . . and even earlier, if possible.

Scherer said a decision might not be made "until well into the preseason - and that's in fairness to the other guys, especially Nick (Hirschman)." He then added, "This is coach (Jon) Embree's final call, but we might not make a decision until into the season - depending on how the competition looks between those guys. That's a possible scenario if nobody separates themselves in training camp. Then you might go into the season. You just have to let it play out. So I don't think we want to paint ourselves into a corner one way or the other."

After Thursday's practice, Embree said transfer Connor Wood had "finished (the spring) strong," but added that Wood "needs to relax . . . sometimes he presses, whether it's over-gripping the ball or trying to throw it real hard. He just needs to relax. But he had a good spring."

Embree also said he was anxious for the preseason camp competition because "it forces them to push themselves and be 'on' every day; every pass counts."

CU's spring competition at the position didn't develop as planned. Hirschman, a sophomore who saw limited duty last fall, broke a bone in his right foot several days before spring drills began and was lost for all 15 practices. Thus, the duel between Hirschman and Wood, also a sophomore, was put on hold until August, leaving Wood and redshirt freshmen John Schrock and Stevie Joe Dorman as Scherer's spring QBs.

It would have been unrealistic, Scherer indicated, to expect Wood to virtually close out the competition in 15 practices. That it will run into August and perhaps beyond, Scherer said, "is more an indication that we want to have an opportunity to evaluate Nick and Shane (Dillon) than it is an indictment (of Wood). I did not go into this spring feeling like we had to, or necessarily would, come out of the spring with a starter. Because of the extenuating circumstances of a young freshman that we have a lot of confidence in and a guy that's been in the offense that's demonstrated some good things in the past . . .

"Now, if Connor would have just been lights out, that scenario might have changed. But my expectation level with Connor was more realistic than that. He didn't have any 'reps' in the offense (last fall) so there was still going to be a learning curve. It was going to be hard for a guy to go from not knowing the offense to being an accomplished starter in 15 practices. This has been an opportunity for Connor to grow and get a lot of 'reps' and make up some ground - not necessarily on the field but on himself in terms of learning the offense. So when preseason does come it'll be a little more of a level playing field for him."

The Buffs signed Dillon, a lanky Californian (6-6, 195), in their 2012 recruiting class, and he, too, will factor into the August competition. Dillon is on campus, has attended practices since mid-week and will stay through this weekend's spring game (Saturday, 5 p.m., Folsom Field). Said Scherer: "We're taking advantage of every opportunity we have (to get him up to speed). He's very eager, very capable. We've been feeding him information since signing date and will continue to do so."

Dillon will return to campus for summer school and should benefit from spending more time with the other quarterbacks, Scherer said, adding that while CU currently was limited in how it can assist Dillon, "He's done a great job of staying up with our spring practices on Hudl (an innovative software program). He's been able to keep abreast of things."

The unplanned, but extended spring time with the No. 1 offense was beneficial for Wood. If he emerged from spring drills with any edge, said Scherer, it was this: "The edge will be that he has 15 days of reps that the other guys haven't had." Still, Wood, who transferred from Texas last fall and spent the 2011 season running CU's scout team, was in learning mode from start to finish. He switched from trying to master opponents' offenses to trying to master the Buffs' - which wasn't a flip-of-the-switch proposition despite the numerous off-season hours he spent studying tape.

Said Wood: "Football is football no matter where you go. I can see how this offense relates to previous offenses I've been in; it's just different terminology and different protection calls. But there's always going to be things as a quarterback you've got to learn . . . it's a process wherever you go."

While Wood downplayed the difficulty of the transition, as well as his rediscovering his "groove" after not having been under center in a game situation since his senior season in high school, Scherer described the situation for what it is. He noted that Wood taking the majority of the spring snaps with the No. 1s offered an opportunity to "grow at the position and in the offense. He's making progress. Neither he nor anyone is nearly where we need to be, but he's getting better every day."

The expanded spring work, Wood said, has allowed him to "gain a ton of experience . . . I've made a lot of strides toward what we want as an offense from this position. It's been a great deal for me to get back into it. I'm pleased but can never be satisfied. I just want to get better."

Wood seemed confident he had shown Scherer and the offensive staff that he can "make all the throws. I just need to continue to try and be consistent and go in day-in/day-out and make the throws I need to make. I believe I can make them all."

He also believes his CU resume, however brief, will benefit him: "Every year there's not a clean slate; you're evaluated on what you've done, it's a continual deal. Coach Rip has an idea of what I can do, he's seen me."

The prospect of the competition spilling into preseason camp comes as no surprise to Wood. He knew Scherer would offer Hirschman and Dillon "fair shots, and that's what I would expect . . . it's a business and coaches have to put their best guys on the field. They want to make sure because there's a lot to lose. It would be a disservice to the team any other way. You have to give everybody a fair evaluation."

With Hirschman sidelined, Schrock, a walk-on last fall, might have benefited as much as Wood from the additional work. Scherer called Schrock "real solid . . . he gives you a lot of confidence that he's going to do the right thing. He makes good decisions. Probably right now of all the quarterbacks, he knows the offense better than anybody.

"That's a credit to him, his work ethic and his intelligence. There's a comfort level with John. At the very least, there's always going to be a role for him. Now how that role plays out depends on how the other guys come in and how he fares in competition."

None of CU's current QBs are cut from the same mold as the mobile Hansen, although Scherer wouldn't characterize the group as "just complete pocket guys. We can still move them and maintain the movement portions of our offense. They may not be as proficient as Tyler to make plays off rhythm when things break down, but that part remains to be seen when we're playing 11-on-11 on Saturdays."

Whoever winds up as the starter, said Scherer, "We've got big shoes to fill. Tyler, I thought, was a very good quarterback. The shame of it is he should be back this season - but that ship has sailed. We need to see consistent execution out of that position. We don't need to see sporadic greatness and then drop below the line. I'd rather see steady execution and productivity and then from that point we can grow week to week through the season.

"Whoever our quarterback is, he's going to be a first-year starter . . . whoever that guy is will be better in game eight than he is game one. But we need to make sure by game one he's good enough in making good decisions and in his leadership and understanding of the offense that we can take advantage of the plays that come available to us. But at the same time we don't want to hurt our offense. We've got to minimize our turnovers, our mental mistakes and allow the experienced parts of our team to take over - allow the offensive line to be a factor, allow the running backs be factors . . . then allow that position (QB) to continue to grow during the course of the season."

BUFF BITS: Thursday marked the Buffs' final day of spring work on the practice field. "We got it in the books," Embree said, noting that he was pleased overall with the 14 drills leading up to Saturday. He said the Buffs' effort was obvious, allowing him and his staff to concentrate on coaching and calling that "refreshing." . . . . As has been the case for previous spring scrimmages, limited numbers in both lines - particularly the D-line - will limit the "live" work on Saturday to about 30 plays. Embree said there also will be seven-on-seven passing work, red zone work and kickoff coverage. Asked what he wanted to see from the final afternoon of spring ball, he answered, "I want to see everyone walk off the field (healthy)." . . . . Receiver Paul Richardson, who suffered a torn ACL and cartilage damage in Monday's practice and is expected to miss the 2012 season, is scheduled to undergo surgery this coming Monday . . . . With Richardson working as a return specialist and now sidelined, Embree said this season's punt/kickoff returners probably haven't arrived on campus yet . . . . Embree said the offensive line has "done well" this spring and is shaping up to be the team's "veteran group." . . . . Sophomore Cordary Allen, who has moved from running back to tight end to defensive end, has missed spring drills with a shoulder injury. "He didn't get a lot accomplished," Embree said . . . . Defensive backs Greg Henderson (funeral) and Josh Moten (academic work) missed Thursday's practice but will participate on Saturday . . . . Embree had more praise for converted tight end Nick Kasa, saying the senior's spring learning curve went from "up to way down to way up." Kasa made several red zone catches Thursday that impressed Embree, who said, "He's starting to get a feel for things." . . . . Among those attending Thursday's practice was Sonny Detmer, the father of former CU quarterback Koy Detmer and former BYU QB and Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Sonny Detmer is the grandfather of CU redshirt freshman QB Stevie Joe Dorman. Sonny also was Dorman's high school coach (Somerset, Texas) and Koy was Dorman's position coach in his senior season . . . . Former Buffs defensive back Clyde Surrell (2000-03) showed up Thursday in a red and white warm up suit, which got Embree's attention for all the wrong reasons. Nebraska isn't on the schedule anymore, but red still isn't a preferred color at CU. Embree said it showed that maybe "a softer, more sensitive side" was taking hold at CU because otherwise "me, 'EB' (Eric Bieniemy) and Kanavis (McGhee) would have put him in the creek." Maybe Surrell forgot, maybe it was something else. "Was that a Run DMC outfit or what?" Embree asked. "I'm not giving him money to get new clothes."

Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU